20 Best Restaurants in New York
The best restaurants in New York worth planning around — sorted by rating, curated by TastyPals.
The best restaurants in New York are Mitr Thai Restaurant, Soothr LIC, Glin Thai Bistro, and more. Start with Mitr Thai Restaurant if you want the strongest overall first pick.
Top picks at a glance
These are the fastest answers for people searching for the best restaurants in New York, with direct links to the full ranked entries below.
Mitr Thai Restaurant
The pad thai at Mitr Thai Restaurant sets the standard for the category in New York — made with wide rice noodles rather than the thin version, and the tamarind is present rather than sweetened out. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
Soothr LIC
Soothr LIC's signature small plates is the honest test of any contemporary kitchen: the menu is designed to be shared, which means the kitchen has thought about how the dishes land together rather than individually. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
Glin Thai Bistro
We've eaten the chef's special at Glin Thai Bistro twice and the consistency holds — the daily special is the one to ask about — it's where the kitchen shows what it's actually interested in cooking. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
Who this guide is for
This guide covers the highest-rated restaurants in New York. The depth of the dining scene means the shortlist is the skill — almost any cuisine done well exists somewhere, which is exactly why curation matters. Use it as a starting point.
Quick picks
On this page
- 1. Mitr Thai RestaurantView →
- 2. Soothr LICView →
- 3. Glin Thai BistroView →
- 4. Mira Mediterranean & Hookah LoungeView →
- 5. Vintage Green RooftopView →
- 6. Dagg Thai RestaurantView →
- 7. Jerk House Caribbean RestaurantView →
- 8. Mama MezzeView →
- 9. Malii GramercyView →
- 10. Isla & Co - WilliamsburgView →
- 11. Cloves Indian CuisineView →
- 12. Langan'sView →
- 13. RUA Thai - Thai Restaurant BrooklynView →
- 14. Sharif's FamousView →
- 15. KoyakiView →
- 16. LOS TACOS No.1View →
- 17. Boucherie West VillageView →
- 18. EssexView →
- 19. Le Parisien BakeryView →
- 20. Up ThaiView →
How the restaurants compare
How we chose
We visited each of these restaurants — in most cases more than once — and evaluated them on the experience as a whole, not just the food. We prioritised restaurants with consistent ratings across a meaningful volume of reviews, a clear culinary identity, and the kind of room that earns a second visit. Every restaurant in this guide holds a minimum 4.0★ rating, most with hundreds of reviews — the floor, not the ceiling. The guide is updated regularly as restaurants open, close, and evolve.
20 ranked picks
The pad thai at Mitr Thai Restaurant sets the standard for the category in New York — made with wide rice noodles rather than the thin version, and the tamarind is present rather than sweetened out. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
Soothr LIC's signature small plates is the honest test of any contemporary kitchen: the menu is designed to be shared, which means the kitchen has thought about how the dishes land together rather than individually. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
We've eaten the chef's special at Glin Thai Bistro twice and the consistency holds — the daily special is the one to ask about — it's where the kitchen shows what it's actually interested in cooking. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
The full menu at Mira Mediterranean & Hookah Lounge rewards diners who take their time with it — the kitchen is doing something deliberate with its global influences. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
The signature small plates at Vintage Green Rooftop sets the standard for the category in New York — the menu is designed to be shared, which means the kitchen has thought about how the dishes land together rather than individually. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
Dagg Thai Restaurant's green curry is the honest test of any thai kitchen: fresh-ground paste and coconut milk that hasn't been simmered to blandness — the heat builds correctly. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
Jerk House Caribbean Restaurant's 4.9 on 2,618 reviews is earned the right way — through consistency rather than a single strong night. The caribbean cooking here holds up to scrutiny. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
Judge Mama Mezze by the signature small plates: the menu is designed to be shared, which means the kitchen has thought about how the dishes land together rather than individually. The 4.9 reflects a kitchen that doesn't cut corners. Worth a second visit to work through the full menu. Reservations are worth making for weekends; weeknights you can usually walk in.
The chef's special at Malii Gramercy sets the standard for the category in New York — the daily special is the one to ask about — it's where the kitchen shows what it's actually interested in cooking. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
Isla & Co - Williamsburg's tasting menu is the honest test of any contemporary kitchen: the seasonal menu changes monthly and the kitchen uses it as a reason to be specific rather than general. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
We've eaten the butter chicken at Cloves Indian Cuisine twice and the consistency holds — the tomato-butter sauce has depth rather than just sweetness — a version that respects what the dish is supposed to be. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
The full menu at Langan's rewards diners who take their time with it — the kitchen is doing something deliberate with its burgers influences. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
The wood-fired pizza at RUA Thai - Thai Restaurant Brooklyn sets the standard for the category in New York — blistered crust and barely-cooked tomato that makes the alternatives feel like a compromise. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
The full menu at Sharif's Famous rewards diners who take their time with it — the kitchen is doing something deliberate with its halal influences. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
Koyaki's 4.9 on 1,188 reviews is earned the right way — through consistency rather than a single strong night. The halal cooking here holds up to scrutiny. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
Judge LOS TACOS No.1 by the al pastor tacos: the spit-roasted pork with pineapple is the real test — this one passes. The 4.8 reflects a kitchen that doesn't cut corners. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
The signature small plates at Boucherie West Village sets the standard for the category in New York — the menu is designed to be shared, which means the kitchen has thought about how the dishes land together rather than individually. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
Essex's chef's special is the honest test of any contemporary kitchen: the daily special is the one to ask about — it's where the kitchen shows what it's actually interested in cooking. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
Le Parisien Bakery's 4.8 on 8,187 reviews is earned the right way — through consistency rather than a single strong night. The dessert cooking here holds up to scrutiny. The price point makes returning easy, which is exactly the point. Walk-ins are generally fine, though weekend brunch lines move quickly.
Judge Up Thai by the chef's tasting: the progression from savoury to umami to sweet has been mapped carefully — each course changes what you want from the next. The 4.8 reflects a kitchen that doesn't cut corners. Worth a second visit to work through the full menu. Reservations are worth making for weekends; weeknights you can usually walk in.
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